Boom secures overall success for Blanco

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Lars Boom (Blanco) completed a successful race and week for the Blanco team, securing overall victory in the Ster ZLM Toer.

Pim Ligthart (Vacansoleil-DCM) won the final stage between Gerwen and Boxtel after being on the attack in a breakaway all day. Ligthart outkicked his three fellow escapees, Sven Vandousselaere (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Brian Van Goethem (Metec-TKH Continental Cyclingteam) and Arno Van Der Zwet (Koga Cycling Team), for the win as the break just barely held off the pursuit of the peloton by the slimmest of margins. It was Ligthart's first win of 2013.

The early break had contained six riders, with Yves Lampaert (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise) falling off the pace just prior to the finish while Steven Lammertink (Cyclingteam Jo Piels) was caught three kilometres from the line.

Credited with the same finishing time as Ligthart, Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol) won the bunch sprint for fifth place, beating Kenny Van Hummel (Vacansoleil-DCM), Marcel Kittel (Argos Shimano) and Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma Quick Step).

Boom suffered a late puncture during the stage but got back to the peloton to secure overall victory.

"Everything went well today, just like it did the entire week," said Boom. "With an eye on the Dutch championships, I wanted to confirm my form here and that is a tick in the box. This is good for my confidence."